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A snap-fit review of the MG 1/100 Freedom Gundam Ver.2.0 [Silver Coating]. A Gundam Base exclusive that puts Kira Yamato’s machine from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, built on the refined Ver.2.0 design, in a silver-plated finish. The plating catches light to bring out the shadows, giving presence even in a simple pose. The build runs ~6-7 hours at difficulty 4/5. I’ll also cover the plating quirks: conspicuous gate marks, easily-shown fingerprints and dust, and the tight fit that takes care.
1. Introduction — The Freedom in Silver Coating
The Freedom Gundam, the all-rounder mobile suit from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, is Kira Yamato’s machine, boasting overwhelming performance with aerial combat as its main stage. This is a review of the Freedom built on the refined “MG Ver.2.0” design and released as a Gundam Base exclusive in a silver coating spec.
The silver armor catches the light to accentuate its shadows, giving it luxury and presence even in a simple pose — the charm of this kit. It’s a special spec clad in a shine entirely different from the standard version. It’s a kit I’d recommend to anyone after a special-feeling Gunpla, and to Freedom fans.
2. Product Information
- Name: MG 1/100 Freedom Gundam Ver.2.0 [Silver Coating]
- Series: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
- Scale: 1/100 (Master Grade)
- Format: Gundam Base exclusive
- Release: 2017
- Price: 11,000 JPY (incl. tax)
- Maker: BANDAI SPIRITS
A Gundam Base exclusive special spec, priced at 11,000 JPY in the higher MG bracket. In return, it’s a “display-and-shine” kit with overwhelming presence even snap-fit.
3. Package & Kit Contents
The contents are runners in silver-plated exterior, dark grey, and inner-frame colors, plus 1 polycap runner, 1 foil sticker and 1 marking sticker, and a full-color instruction manual. The silver plating pairs beautifully with Ver.2.0’s slim proportions, and there’s a sense of occasion from the moment you spread the runners.
4. The Build — ~6-7 Hours Snap-Fit, the Spots to Watch
Difficulty is 4/5, and the build takes about 6-7 hours — a satisfying MG bite. The Ver.2.0 design itself is easy to build, but the silver coating brings a few things to watch:
- Plating shows gate marks: plated parts show gate marks readily, and you can’t hide them with paint, so I took special care with gate cleanup. Cutting twice with the nippers and working carefully with the gate position in mind makes a big difference.
- Fingerprints and dust show easily: the near-mirror plated surface shows fingerprints and dust. Wiping with a cloth as you build keeps the finished beauty intact.
- Tight fit takes care with the force: the silver-coated parts are thick and some fit tightly. To avoid scratching the plating, I pushed the load-bearing spots in gradually and carefully.
- Plating is weak to rubbing: this applies to plated kits in general — friction and rubbing peel the plating easily, so it’s best to avoid filing and handle it carefully during the build.
It does take time, but building with “don’t scratch it, don’t smudge it” in mind makes the finished shine exceptional.
5. Out-of-Box Review — Metallic That Shines in the Light
Once finished, the silver coating version radiates overwhelming presence even snap-fit. The metallic feel shifts with the light source, and you sense three-dimensional information from both the front and the back. Ver.2.0’s slim proportions pair superbly with the silver plating, making a kit that shines just by being displayed.
Articulation is excellent too: the shoulders and hips move widely, and the High-MAT Full Burst pose lands naturally. Using the wing articulation gimmick, you can recreate a powerful silhouette. Because the plating’s shadows shift with movement, it shows a different shine each time you set a pose.
There’s some sticker completion in the details, but most is reproduced by the plated and dark-grey molding alone, so it finishes to a high standard even snap-fit — truly “good to build, good to display.”
6. Where It Sits in the Lineup — Comparisons
- Versus the standard Freedom Ver.2.0: where the standard kit gives the on-screen colors in plastic, the silver coating radiates a “different kind of luxury” in all-silver metallic. The same Ver.2.0 design gains a step up in presence just from the plating.
- Versus other plated/coating kits: the coating kits that appear as Gundam Base exclusives and the like are all about how they pop on display. Freedom’s slim silhouette pairs especially well with plating, making it one of the better-looking coating kits.
- The High-MAT Full Burst pose: the full-armament High-MAT Full Burst pose, combined with the plating’s shine, is full of impact. If you’re displaying it, aiming for this pose is the way to go.
7. One-Point Tips for a Cleaner Finish
This was a snap-fit build, but here are a few steps to make the most of the plating (general suggestions).
- Gate handling: plating shows gate marks, so cut twice and process with the gate position turned away from view for a cleaner look.
- Go careful with panel lining: lining on a plated surface is hard to wipe back if it overflows, so apply a little at a time with a dedicated pen.
- Handling: fingerprints and dust show, so building with gloves or a cloth preserves the beauty.
- Storage: it’s weak to rubbing, so arranging parts so they don’t rub when displayed keeps the shine lasting.
8. Before You Buy
- As a Gundam Base exclusive, re-releases are irregular; it’s somewhat hard to get and prices swing a lot.
- Secondhand is available on Amazon, Rakuten, Suruga-ya, Yahoo Auctions, Mercari, etc., but it tends to go to premium prices, so check carefully.
- The plating is weak to rubbing and fingerprints, so careful handling is a prerequisite for both building and display.
- At ~6-7 hours it has MG-grade volume, so it suits those who can set aside a block of time.
9. Good & More
Good
- The silver metallic coating is beautiful, with luxury heightened by emphasized shadows.
- Ver.2.0’s wide range of motion and stable proportions.
- Gimmicks like High-MAT Full Burst and wing deployment make the most of the silhouette.
- High finish quality that displays well even snap-fit.
More (things to note)
- The plating makes gate marks conspicuous.
- Fingerprints and dust show easily, so handling needs care.
- The fit is tight and takes care with the force. The plating peels easily from rubbing, so careful handling is a must; and as a limited release it’s hard to get.
10. Score
Overall: ★★★★☆
In a sentence: “The silver metallic coating sets off Ver.2.0’s excellent design, giving overwhelming presence even snap-fit — a kit that shines on display. The wide articulation and the impact of the High-MAT Full Burst are intact. On the other hand, the conspicuous gate marks from the plating, the weakness to fingerprints and rubbing, and the tight fit call for careful handling, which is worth going in expecting.”
11. Conclusion
The MG 1/100 Freedom Gundam Ver.2.0 [Silver Coating] clads the iconic C.E. Freedom Gundam in silver armor, fusing Ver.2.0’s excellent design with the appeal of a metallic coating. There are caveats — the gate marks from the plating, the weakness to fingerprints and rubbing, the tight fit — but the shine and presence once carefully built are exceptional. It finishes into a “special-feeling piece” that’s good to build and good to display. With a shine entirely different from the standard Freedom, it’s a kit I’d recommend to Freedom fans and to anyone after a metallic-finish Gunpla.
